Executive Board Members

Dr. Melissa Burek started her career at Bowling Green State University in 2003.  She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.  Her research focuses on offender reentry and post-incarceration challenges, institutional and community corrections, substance use and mental health disorders, and public health and social program evaluations.  Dr. Burek has worked as a funded investigator on projects for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, and the Ohio Department of Health.  She has published papers in The Department Chair, Journal of Crime and Justice, The Prison Journal, Criminal Justice Policy Review, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, and Journal of Interpersonal Violence, co-author of Criminal Justice: The Essentials, now in its 6th edition, and first author of Corrections: The Essentials.  She serves the College of Health and Human Services as the Associate Dean of Graduate Education, Research, and Engagement, a member of the Facility Governing Board at the NorthWest Community Corrections Center, and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Trustee-At-Large.  Dr. Burek is also Faculty Affiliate of our recently established Criminal Justice Learning Community.  She is also the Director of the Center for Justice Research with the Ohio Attorney General's Office.